Port Stephens Council will spend $25.2 million in the next year to improve roads, drainage, pools, parks, sporting complexes and other community facilities.
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Major improvements and projects will be carried out in each council ward under the 2018-2019 Capital Works Program.
Mayor Ryan Palmer said it is an exciting time in Port Stephens with the amount of works slated for start across the area, but added that further improvements would only be possible with the approval of the Special Rate Variation.
“This council has been proactive in seeking alternative funding sources to pay for the works but there’s only so much we can do without asking ratepayers for more funding to increase our investment,” Cr Palmer said.
“We look lean in comparison to our local government neighbours like Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. They have the capacity to spend $100 million on projects each year thanks to previous special rate variations.
“Our community has been asking for better roads, more pathways, revitalised town centres, more recreation facilities and increased services – and that’s exactly what we will deliver if any increase in rates is approved.”
About a third of the capital works funding ($8 million) will come from rates, fees and charges.
The rest will come from other revenue sources including grants ($5.6 million), as well as holiday parks, property investments, developer contributions, donations and dividends from Newcastle Airport ($11.6m combined).
The money will be spent on improving roads, drainage, libraries, parks, playgrounds, pools, holiday parks and sporting facilities across the Port.
The $1.6m redesign and redevelopment of Anna Bay’s Robinson Reserve, including the installation of a new skatepark and playground, is the highest value project included in the council’s 2018-2019 Capital Works Program, followed by the $1.4m Tomaree Road reconstruction between Marine Drive and Verona Road (which is a multi-year project).
Under the capital works program, the council is expecting to spend $1.6m on roads, $1.5m on cycle paths, $1.6m on waste facilities, $2.1m on fleet replacements and $3.4m on holiday parks.
